Catalyst Paper Corporation’s Powell River division was, for a long period of time since its inception in 1912, at the centre of Powell River’s identity; it was mill town. Thousands of people used to work at the pulp and paper mill. At its height, more than 2,700 people were employed, but times change.

By 1990, the mill was down to 2,000 employees and that total decreased to 700 by 2001. Catalyst now employs approximately 360 workers in Powell River.

Declining markets for its newsprint and other paper products, and technological improvements, mean that even though the size of the mill has not shrunk by much, everything else about the industry has done so dramatically.

Unifor Local 76 represents about 220 of the current employees, including operations and maintenance workers, pipe fitters, electricians, welders and lab technicians. Its president, Mike Rumley, a 39-year mill veteran, has witnessed some tumultuous changes over the second half of his career. When he started working at the mill in the mid-1970s, the local represented around 1,800 members.

“There has been an incredible amount of downsizing,” said Rumley. “At one time, there were seven paper machines running. We’re down to two now.”

Unifor Local 1, responsible for providing the mill’s paper-machine operators, accounts for another 80 workers. The remaining 60 Catalyst employees include administrators and office support staff.

Catalyst Powell River division vice-president and general manager Fred Chinn said the past 10 years have been particularly challenging for the local mill. It is a well-known fact that there is less demand for the products it produces, he added.

“Every single printing and writing grade is in decline and has been in decline for some time,” said Chinn. “As a result, mills are shutting down; you hear about it almost monthly, some mill announcing a closure.”

Chinn said paper is a commodity and declining markets mean oversupply and flagging prices. “You can’t charge more just because you’re Powell River,” he said, adding that the local mill has some challenges other, less-isolated mills do not have to deal with.

“This is a high-cost mill,” said Chinn, “and you could end up in trouble very quickly.” Chinn said when he came to Powell River in 2014, he shut down paper machine number nine as the start of an effort to revitalize the operation. That meant trying to find other paper-based products to make, and ones that were in demand. “We had to change everything we did or else we wouldn’t be here anymore,” said Chinn.

Rumley said the unions saw the threat of the mill closing, as Catalyst’s Campbell River operation did in 2009, and decided they could play a role in ensuring the mill’s future. “I’ve done everything I can so there are still jobs behind me when I’m gone,” he said.

Between 2014 and the end of 2016, Chinn said Catalyst reduced its Powell River division operating costs by $34 million annually. “Delivering that operating reduction, that’s not just cost-cutting, that’s doing things differently,” he said. “It was a very exciting time with hundreds of changes going on throughout the mill. It was also deciding what product we were going to make.”

Last month, Catalyst announced one of the new products that came out of those brainstorming sessions: food-grade paper. The company is calling the line of United States Food and Drug Administration-approved food-wrap products Bistro.

The mill is also converting paper machine number 11, enabling it to produce a product currently in the testing phase. “We’re still very early in breaking in and we’re still learning,” Chinn, “but we’re doing something that will have a future for us. Everyone in this mill knows this is our shot.”

Mondi, the international packaging and paper Group, will exhibit its wide range of professional paper solutions for book printing at the Frankfurt Bookfair held from 11 to 15 October in Frankfurt, Germany. The Mondi booth is located in Hall 4 / Booth F94. As a professional printing paper manufacturer, Mondi offers sustainable paper solutions for all printing technologies and needs. Book printing customers will find more than they expect at the Mondi booth. Johannes Klumpp, Marketing & Sales Director at Mondi Uncoated Fine Paper, explains, “We can offer the right solution for any printing technology – whether digital, hybrid, offset, HP indigo or high-speed inkjet. At the Frankfurt Bookfair, customers can explore the quality of Mondi’s design papers, tinted portfolio and our high-speed inkjet papers.” Click Read More below for additional detail.

Adjusted earnings before tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) was negative $19.2 million, and adjusted EBITDA before specific items was positive $9.7 million, compared to adjusted EBITDA of $14.0 million and adjusted EBITDA before restructuring costs and specific items of $14.6 million in the first quarter of 2015.
The company recorded a net loss of $32.4 million and a net loss before specific items of $13.8 million in Q2, compared to net earnings of $22.2 million, and a net loss before specific items of $12.6 million in the previous quarter.

Avery Dennison Performance Tapes has increased its Kunshan, China manufacturing capabilities with the installation of a new custom-built coater and enlarged the plant’s size by 3,500 sq. meters (37,674 sq. ft.). Avery Dennison will begin taking orders for products manufactured on the coater October 1, 2015.
According to Michael Johansen, global vice president and general manager, Performance Tapes, the new equipment and plant expansion reflect the commitment by Avery Dennison to serve the needs of industry in China.
“Demand is high for industrial tapes and adhesives solutions in China,” Johansen says. “The electronics, automotive and general industrial segments are already significant in size and are growing fast. With our new coater, we can now better serve our customers in China with local production, which means faster delivery backed by a range of valuable services. Our Kunshan plant’s integrated service program, for example, will provide outstanding technical support, fast and reliable customer service and more flexible delivery options. At the same time, we will offer customized solutions for those customers that have special needs and requirements.”

After more than 100 years in business, Midland has grown from a single Midwest location to a national company with offices from coast to coast. This type of growth requires relentless effort on doing things right.